New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
THAT pRoTIDENCE road SUICIDE
ITS VICTIM FRENCH xoBLEMAN Win srRANGl

From The Boston Journal
French nobieman OF the highest rank who ten years
ago filed from his native country after committing
great crime and who has been living In disguise for
more than year in Boston yesterday ended his strange
career by committing suicide Boston and Proyi-
dence Railroad. His real name was tho Marquis dc Ia
longed to him the head OF OF the most prominent
families in France Among other positions he held the
responsibility and trust They made tho custodians
OF much personal property by the common people acting
often private bankers In this capacity tho Marquis
de la Tourasse held in trust fully 100000 francs
He a %ST5s4 neDe6 Ssa aud Sos looked ea
long ne Of 81. t.9s. ,er AND
that would soon part them The Marqui. great
favcrlte among his friends. and entertained them
PI2se OMEN 10 hs friends. His salon Was Visited by mem
bers OF the royal family and all the nobility. His stables
were we'll stocked and no the fayorito member OF
many social clubs He spent money freely aud thought
lessly His bots were honoraby paid and some OF them
were large that his seeming inexhausble supply
OF gold was severely taxed For many years he noatod
along on tho high wave OF social prosperity ahen me
amount needed 10 continue In such extravagant living
trusted TO him as notary only little taken at first,
the honest intention OF replacing 1t In the near III
first step a.. Nothing remained for him but flight
After hts preparations made he confessed his guilt
to his vito and bade her good His little children
But they mover saw him again on French soil He
managed escape under cover of darkness closely pur-
That was ten years ago He landed in New York with
thou sht as to what he should do to gain live hood
His only thought had been TO get to America IL TO
him land OF liberty. No would have recognized In
tho clad sallow faced with hair unkempt
and hands soilcd with dirt the pory, noble form OF
Marquis do la Tourasse.
changes In his toilet, sought employment as teacher OK
French After few days OF iruess endeayor no went
to Canada and again sought work In Toronto While IN
that city his devotion 10 the Church was so great that he
had the reputation OF being almost religious fanatic
Much OF his time spent with the Jesuit Fathers.
He Boston about year ago and after his
arrival he introduced another his friends They
OF knew nothing OF his previous history To them
he was August dc sempe Instructor In French Ho was
self TO say nothing OF his wife earned enough money
by drcSsmakng TO make homo comfortable and 70 pro-
vide her shftless husband with clothing He spent all
his money Tor liquor or at the gaming table HIS RUIN
seemed 10 DO complete. At times lie made earnest
effort to reform. but the old habit dragged him down
again.
Two months ago his American wife died while giving
birth TO child leaving De sempe without funds TO pro-
cure nurse or even TO supply the needs OF the house
had made his home happy in France He knew that his
wife had surrendered all her possessions 10 help settle
his eldest daughter, Marie. had been adopted by his
wife's family and living Ia luxury. lie wrote TO
her and represented that he rich and invited her TO
come and share his home The young lady Is eighteen
years old and was glad OF the chance America She
came but not the homo that had looked forward
to with so much pleasure, The contrast between tho
apartments In France too great Then too, sho
rebeed at the idea OF taking care OF bis iegumate
she went TO New-York with q lady friend, In:
tending to start at once fot France, DE semp9
followed her and by threats compelled her 70 returp
home with him. She obeyed, but told him that she would
escape the first opportunity lie laughed az her and
told her she now secure In his power She went 70
the priest and told him tho whole story. he promptly
refused 10 let her CO. The reverend father commanded
her to return to her homo In Franco This angsred Dc
notice taken OF that threat, however. Wednesday
night the girl made her preparations TO depart